Terms you may find throughout this web site and their definitions...

Abdomen The belly or under surface between the chest and the hindquarters.

Acetabulum The concave lateral portion of the sacrum that articulates with the head of the femur. Anatomically important in evaluating hip dysplasia.

Achondroplasia A form of genetic dwarfism specifically characterized by arrested development of the long bones. A defect in most breeds and a requisite in others (e.g., Dachshunds and Basset Hounds).

Action A term used to describe component functions of locomotion (e.g., action of the hocks) or as a synonym for gait in some standards.

ADBA American Dog Breeders Association

Agent See handler.

Agility Excellent (AX) A suffix title conferred on dogs for qualifying the requisite number of times in the Agility Excellent class at AKC agility trials.

Agility trials An organized competition at which dogs negotiate a series of obstacles and jumps in three classes of increasing difficulty. Suffix titles are earned at each level (Novice, Open, and Excellent) by qualifying a predetermined number of times.

AKC American Kennel Club

Albino A relatively rare, genetically recessive condition resulting in white hair and pink eyes.

All-Breed show Conformation show where all AKC-recognized breeds may be exhibited.

Almond eyes An elongated eye shape, rather than rounded.

Amble A relaxed, easy gait in which the legs on either side move almost, but not quite, as a pair. Often seen as the transition movement between the walk and other faster gaits.

American-bred class A regular class for all dogs (except champions) six months of age whelped in the USA as a result of a mating that took place within the USA.

American Kennel Club An organization, established under the laws of the State of New York, whose goals are to adopt and enforce uniform rules regulating and governing purebred dogs events; to regulate the conduct of persons interested in exhibiting, running, breeding, registering, purchasing, and selling dogs; to detect, prevent, and punish frauds in connection therewith; to protect the interest of its members; to maintain and publish an official stud book and an official gazette; and generally to do everything to advance the study, breeding, exhibiting, running, and maintenance of purebred dogs.

Angulation Angles created by bones meeting at their given joints.

Ankle See hock.

Anterior The front assembly of the body.

Appeal A request to either nullify or reduce the length of a suspension and/or fine imposed.

Apple head A round-shaped skull.

Arm The anatomical region between the shoulder and the elbow. Sometimes called the upper arm.

Armband Number worn on an exhibitor's arm that corresponds to the number in the event catalog and the judge's book. This number is the identifier that links the dog in the ring to that dog's information as published in the catalog. The number is also used to associate any points, awards, or placements with the dog's AKC registration number.

Articulation Where two or more bones meet.

Artificial Insemination The introduction of semen into the female reproductive tract by artificial means.

Assistant, Assistant handler Person at a dog show who helps the handler care for the dogs in the handler's care, prepare the dogs for the ring, and show the dogs.

Back The area of a dog's body extending from the withers to the croup.

Back to back (1) Conformation/Obedience: Two events held by the same club on consecutive days with AKC approval. (2) Performance: Two events held on consecutive days at the same location, either by the same club or by two clubs.

Bad mouth Crooked teeth; when the mouth is closed, upper and lower teeth do not line up according to the standard of the breed.

Bait The food or object that an exhibitor uses to get a dog's attention or to have it look alert in the ring. The term bait or baiting can also be used to describe the action of getting the dog's attention using food or an object.

Balance When all the parts of the dog, moving or standing, produce a harmonious image.

Bandy legs Legs that bend outward.

Barrel A rib region that is round in cross section.

Barrel hocks Hocks that turn out, causing the feet to toe in. Also called spread hocks.

Bat ear An ear that stands up, with a broad base, rounded at the top, with opening facing forward.

Beady Eyes that are small, round, and glittering, imparting an expression foreign to the breed.

Bee-sting tail A relatively short, strong, straight tail that tapers to a point. Used to describe the characteristics of a Pointer's tail.

Beefy Over-heavy development of the hindquarters.

Belly The under surface of the abdomen.

Bench show A dog show at which the dogs are kept on assigned benches when not being shown in competition so that interested people can view and learn more about them.

Bench Show Committee See Event Committee.

Best in Show At an all-breed show, the only dog left undefeated at the end of all judging on that day.

Best of Breed Dog selected by the judge as the best representative of a particular breed on that day.

Best of Opposite Sex The best dog that is of the opposite sex to the Best of Breed winner.

Best of Winners The dog judged as best between the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch.

Bitch A female canine.

Bite The relative position of the upper and lower teeth when the jaws are closed. Bite positions include scissors, level, undershot, or overshot, depending on the breed.

Blaze A white stripe running up the center of the face usually between the eyes.

Blocky Square or cube-like formation of the head.

Blooded A dog of good breeding; pedigreed.

Board To feed, house, and care for a dog for a fee.

Bodied up Mature, well-developed.

Body length Distance from the prosternum (front portion of the breastbone) to the posterior portion of the pelvic girdle.

Bone A type of connective tissue that forms the canine skeleton. Informally used to suggest a quantitative characteristic of limb bones in proportion to the overall size of the dog.

Bossy Over-development of the shoulder muscles.

Brace (1) Two of the same breed presented together as a pair. (2) Performance: To run dogs together in certain types of field events.

Breastbone See sternum.

Bred-by-exhibitor class A regular class for dogs that are:
Six months of age or older as of the first day of the show;
Not Champions of record on the date of closing of entries for the show;
Individually registered with the American Kennel Club as of the date of closing of entries for the show;
Owned or co-owned by any of the breeders of record as of the date of the closing of entries for the show. The person handling the dog in this class must be a breeder of record and an owner of record of this dog.
In any subsequent classes for which the dog from the Bred-by-Exhibitor class becomes eligible, there are no restrictions as to who may handle.

Breed A domestic race of dogs (selected and maintained by man) with a common gene pool and characterized appearance and function.

Breed standards The set of breed descriptions originally laid down by the various parent breed clubs and accepted officiallyby international bodies .

Breeder A person who breeds dogs. Under AKC rules, the breeder is the owner or the lessee of the dam on the date of mating that produced a litter.

Breeding particulars Sire, dam, date of birth, sex, color, etc.

Brick-shaped Rectangular.

Brindle A marking pattern used to describe many breeds, usually in conjunction with another color. Layering of black hairs in regions of lighter color (usually, fawn, brown, or gray) producing a tiger-striped pattern. Brindle is often used to describe Great Danes, Bulldogs, and Boxers. In Boxers, reverse brindle may occur; i.e., there is such a heavy concentration of black striping that the fawn background color barely, although clearly, shows through (appears black with fawn stripes). Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Brisket Usually refers to the sternum, but in some standards it refers to the entire thorax.

Brood bitch Female dog (bitch) used for breeding.

Brood Bitch class Class where a brood bitch is shown and judged with at least two of her offspring. Judging is based on the quality of the get, not the dam. (A club may permit more offspring to be shown. The upper limit must be stated in the Premium List.)

Brows The ridges formed above the eyes by frontal bone contours.

Brushing A gaiting fault, when parallel pasterns are so close that the legs brush in passing.

Bull neck A heavy neck, well-muscled.

Bullbaiting An ancient sport in which a dog tormented a bull.

Burr The inside of the ear; i.e., the irregular formation visible within the cup.

Butterfly A partially unpigmented nose; i.e., dark, spotted with flesh color.

Buttocks The rump or hips.

CAR Companion Animal Recovery (sm).

CGC Canine Good Citizen ®.

CKC Canadian Kennel Club.

Camel back An arched back.

Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) The recognized registry organization for purebred dogs in Canada.

Cancellation (1) Event: When an AKC event is canceled due to severe conditions, natural disaster, or concerns for public safety. The welfare of the dogs and the public are the main considerations when canceling an event. (2) Event entry: An exhibitor cancels a previously submitted entry. No entry may be canceled unless notice of the cancellation is received in writing or by telegram by the Superintendent or the Event Secretary prior to the closing date/hour for that event. (3) Award: Wins removed from a dog's record due to the dog's ineligibility to compete. (4) Registration: The act of deleting a dog or litter from AKC records after an investigation (The record is not deleted, but remains in the database.) Nullifies AKC registration of the dog or puppies and impacts the Stud Book.

Canid A family (Canidae) of carnivorous animals including dogs, wolves, coyotes, foxes, and jackals.

Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) CERF maintains a registry of genetic eye diseases in dogs by cooperating with canine eye specialists, who certify that dogs are free of specific eye problems for one year from the date of the examination.

Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Outreach program, put on by a club, which tests a dog's behavior.

Canines The two upper and two lower large, conical, pointed teeth lateral to the incisors and anterior to the premolars.

Canter A gait with three beats to each stride, two legs moving separately and two as a diagonal pair. Slower than the gallop and not as tiring.

Carpals Bones of the wrist.

Castrate To remove the testicles of a male dog.

Cat foot Neat, round foot, with high-arched toes held closely together.

Champion Tracker (CT) A title conferred by the AKC on a dog who has earned the TD, TDX, and VST titles.

Character Expression, individuality, and general appearance and deportment as considered typical of a breed.

Cheeky Cheeks prominently rounded; thick, protruding.

Chest The part of the body or trunk that is enclosed by the ribs.

Chippendale front Forelegs out at the elbows, pasterns close, and feet turned out. Named after the Chippendale chair. Also called fiddle front.

Chiseled Clean-cut in head, as contrasted with bumpy or bulging outlines, particularly beneath the eyes.

Chops Jowls or pendulous flesh of the lips and jaw.

Chorea A nervous jerking caused by involuntary contractions of the muscles (may be caused by distemper or hepatitis).

Circuit A group of events clustered together at the same grounds or in the same region on consecutive days.

Clipping When pertaining to gait, the back foot striking the front foot.

Cloddy Low, thickset, comparatively heavy.

Close mating A condition where there is less than 4 months and 15 days between either:
The date of mating of a previously registered litter and the date of mating of a newly submitted litter application for the same dam

The whelping date of a previously registered litter and the whelping date of a newly submitted litter application out of the same dam. Will cause the rejection of litter application for questioning.
Close-coupled Comparatively short from the last rib to the commencement of the hindquarters; occasionally used to characterize a comparative shortness from withers to hipbones.

Cluster Four all-breed shows held on consecutive days at the same location.

Coarse Lacking refinement.

Coat The dog's hair covering.

Cobby Compact, with a short body.

Collar (1) The markings around the neck, usually white. (2) A leather, nylon, or chain neck band for restraining or leading a dog when the leash is attached.

Compact Term used to describe the firmly joined union of various body parts. Also used to describe a short- to medium-length coat, very close lying, with a dense undercoat and giving a smooth outline.

Companion Animal Recovery(sm) (CAR) A national database in which any companion animal with a form of positive identification, such as a microchip or tattoo, can be enrolled.

Companion Dog (CD) A title conferred on a dog by the AKC as a result of having won certain minimum scores in Novice classes at a specified number of AKC-licensed or -member obedience trials.

Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) A title conferred on a dog by the AKC as a result of having won certain minimum scores in Open classes at a specified number of AKC-licensed or -member obedience trials.

Condition Health as shown by the coat, skin, general appearance, and behavior.

Conformation The form and structure, make and shape; arrangement of the parts in conformance with breed standards.

Conformation show Dog show where the dogs are judged on how closely they adhere to the breeds standard. Also known as all-breed, group, or specialty shows.

Congenital Present at birth; may have genetic or environmental causes.

Co-owners One or more individuals recorded in the AKC records as the registered owner of a dog.

Corky Active, lively, alert.

Coupling The part of the body between the ribs and the pelvis/hindquarters; the loin.

Covering ground The distance traveled by a dog with each stride as it gaits.

Cow-hocked Hocks turning in, accompanied by toeing out of rear feet.

Crabbing Dog moves with its body at an angle to the line of travel. Also called sidewinding.

Crank tail A tail carried down and resembling a crank in shape.

Crate Portable container used for shipping, transporting, or housing dogs. Also called cage or kennel.

Crest The upper, arched portion of the neck.

Cropping, Crop The cutting or trimming of ear leather to encourage it to stand erect.

Crossing over Unsound gaiting action that starts with twisting elbows and ends with crisscrossing and toeing out. Also called knitting and purling and weaving.

Croup The region of the pelvic girdle, formed by the sacrum and surrounding tissue.

Crown The top part of the head; the topskull.

Cryptorchid The adult whose testicles are abnormally retained in the abdominal cavity. Bilateral cryptorchidism involves both sides; i.e., neither testicle has descended into the scrotum. Unilateral cryptorchidism (also called monorchid) involves one side only; i.e., one testicle is retained or hidden, and one is descended.

Cynology The study of canines.

Dam The female parent.

Date of whelping Date of birth.

Dentition Forty-two adult teeth, including incisors, canines, premolars, and molars.

Depth of chest An indication of the volume of space for heart and lungs, and commonly referenced to the elbow (i.e., above, at the level of, or below).

Dewclaw An extra claw on the inside of the leg; a rudimentary fifth toe, removed on most breeds.

Dewlap Loose, pendulous skin under the throat and neck.

Diagonals Right front and left rear legs constitute the right diagonal; left front and right rear legs constitute the left diagonal. In the trot, the diagonals move together.

Digit Toe.

Dilute Washed out color.

Disallowed Placements/Awards removed from a dog's record for a specified reason. For conformation events, the dog is counted in computing points. For performance events, the dog may or may not be counted, depending on the event. Performance is same as Conformation.

Dishing Weaving.

Divergent hocks Hocks that turn out. Barrel hocks.

DNA A unique genetic makeup. DNA testing is done to prove the actual parentage and/or identity of an animal.

DNA test A test to determine identity and/or verify parentage. Results must be processed by an AKC-approved facility to be accepted by AKC.

DNA-VIP These letters stand for "DNA Verified Identified Parentage." When these letters appear on the UKC registration certificate and pedigree after the UKC registration number of a dog, it means that: The dog, its sire, and its dam all have DNA profiles in the UKCdatabase, the dog's DNA profile has been compared to the profiles of the sire and dam, and, the dog's parentage has been verified as a result of that comparison.

Dog A male canine or term used to refer generically to all canines, male or female.

Dog Registration Application A form used to register an individual dog of a registered litter.

Dog show See conformation show.

Domed Evenly rounded in topskull; curved, not flat.

Dorsal The portion of the dog carried farthest from the substratum (i.e., away from the ground) during normal locomotion or side of the body furthest from the ground.

Down in pastern Weak or faulty pastern set at an incorrect angle.

Down-faced The muzzle inclining downwards from the skull to the tip of the nose.

Drive A solid thrusting of the hindquarters, denoting sound locomotion.

Drop ear The ear leather folds over; not erect or prick ears.

Dry neck The skin taut, neither loose nor wrinkled.

Dudley nose Flesh-colored.

Ears The auditory organ, consisting of three regions: inner ear, middle ear, and the most important pinna (or leather), which is supported by cartilage and which affects the expression of all breeds.

East-west front Incorrect positioning that causes the feet to turn outwards.

Elbow The posterior region of the articulation between the arm and forearm.

Elbows out Turning out or off from the body; not held close.

Entire A dog whose reproductive system is complete.

Entropion A complex genetic condition that results in the turning in of the upper or lower eyelid, potentially resulting in corneal ulceration.

Even bite Meeting of upper and lower incisors with no overlap. Also called level bite.

Event A structured activity testing the conformation, training, or instinctive abilities of purebred dogs.

Event Committee hearing A means for the Event Committee to deal with allegations concerning conduct deemed to be prejudicial to the interests of purebred dogs.

Ewe neck A neck in which the topline is concave rather than convex.

Exhibitor Person handling a dog at a show. May or may not be the dog's owner. Also called agent. See also handler or professional handler.

Expression The general appearance of all the features of the head.

Eyeteeth The upper canines.

Fancier A person especially interested and usually active in some phase of the sport of purebred dogs.

Fangs See canines.

FAST Federation for the Staffordshire Terrier

Fawn A brown, red-yellow with hue of medium brilliance.

Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) Based in Belgium, FCI licenses international shows in its 72 member countries, including the well-known annual World Show. FCI maintains breed standards for all its 341 recognized breeds. It does not operate a registry but accepts pedigrees for show purposes from the registries of its member countries. FCI has a reciprocal agreement with the AKC, the Canadian Kennel Club, and The Kennel Club (England), which are not members.

Femur Thigh bone. Extends from hip to stifle.

Fibula One of the two bones of the leg (i.e., the lower thigh, second thigh, or lower leg).

Fiddle front Forelegs out at elbows, pasterns close, and feet turned out. French front.

Filled-up face Smooth facial contours, free of excessive muscular development.

Finished Term used to describe when a dog has completed its title requirements.

Fixed (1) See neuter. (2) Surgical procedure that permanently changes the carriage of the tail or ears. Such a procedure renders a dog ineligible to compete in AKC conformation events.

Flank The side of the body between the last rib and the hip.

Flare A blaze that widens as it approaches the topskull.

Flat-sided Ribs insufficiently rounded as they approach the sternum or breastbone.

Flews Upper lip pendulous, particularly at their inner corners.

Floating rib The last (or 13th rib), which is unattached to the other ribs.

Flying ears Any characteristic drop ears or semi-prick ears that stand or fly.

Forearm The portion of the forelimb between the arm and the wrist.

Foreface The front portion of the skull that articulates with the cranium.

Forequarters The combined front assembly from its uppermost component, the shoulder blade, down to the feet.

Foster mother A bitch used to nurse puppies not her own.

French choke, martingale Examples of choke collars. See training collar.

French front See fiddle front.

Fresh extended (chilled) semen Semen that is extracted and extended by a licensed veterinarian. The semen must be extracted from a dog within the USA and shipped to a point within the USA only. This type of semen must be used within a specified period of time.

Frogface Extending nose accompanied by a receding jaw, usually overshot.

Front The forepart of the body as viewed head-on; i.e., forelegs, chest, brisket, and shoulder line.

Frontal bones The anterior bones of the cranium forming the forehead.

Frozen semen Semen that is extracted, frozen, and stored for future use by a licensed veterinarian. The collection must be reported to the AKC, and the collector/storer must be an AKC-approved facility and in compliance with AKC record keeping practices.

Furrow A slight indentation of median line down the center of the skull to the stop.

Futurity A non-regular competition at specialty shows or field trials for young dogs that requires a series of nominations and associated fees prior to the date on which the Futurity is judged. These stages usually consist of nomination of the bitch after she is bred, nomination of the litter after it is whelped, and/or nomination of individual puppies from the litter. The number of nomination stages, fees, and other conditions are set at the discretion of the club holding the Futurity.

Gait The pattern of footsteps at various rates of speed, each pattern distinguished by a particular rhythm and footfall.

Gallop Fastest of dog gaits; has a four-beat rhythm and often an extra period of suspension during which the body is propelled through the air with all four feet off the ground.

Gaskin The lower or second thigh.

Gay tail A tail carried above the horizontal level of the back.

Gestation Period The time between mating and birth (it averages 63 days).

Get Offspring.

Goose neck An elongated, tubular-shaped neck. Also called swan neck.

Goose rump Too steep or sloping a croup.

Goose step Accentuated lift of the forelimbs.

Groom To brush, comb, trim, or otherwise make a dog's coat neat.

Group class A class made up of dogs designated Best of Breed or Best of Variety for their specific group. No separate entry is made for this class. Each group winner is eligible to compete in the Best in Show competition.

Group show Conformation dog show, at which championship points may be awarded, that permits participants or breeds exclusive to an individual group. Examples are: all-terrier show, toy show, etc.

Groups The breeds as grouped into seven divisions by the AKC to facilitate judging. The seven groups are: sporting, hound, working, toy, terrier, non-sporting, and herding.

Hackles Hairs on neck and back raised involuntarily in fright or anger.

Hackney action A high lifting of the front feet accompanied by flexing of the wrist like that of a Hackney horse.

Hallmark A distinguishing characteristic.

Handler Person other than an the owner or co-owner, designated by the owner or co-owner of an entered dog to be the handler of, and the person responsible for, the dog at the event. See also exhibitor .

Hare foot Foot on which the two center digits are appreciably longer than the outside and inside toes of the foot, and the arching of the toes is less marked, making the foot appear longer overall.

Haunch bones The hip bones.

Haw A third eyelid or membrane on the inside corner of the eye.

Head The front portion of the dog, including the muzzle and the cranium.

Head planes Viewed in profile, the contours of the top portion of the skull from occiput to stop, and the foreface from stop to tip of the nose.

Heat (1) Seasonal period of the female. Estrus, in season. (2) Performance: A competitive running of dogs.

Heel Command to a dog to keep close beside its handler.

Height Vertical measurement from the withers to the ground; usually called shoulder height.

High standing Tall and upstanding, with plenty of leg.

Hindquarters Rear assembly of the dog (pelvis, thighs, hocks, and paws).

Hip Dysplasia Abnormal formation of the hip joint.

Hock The collection of bones of the hind leg forming the joint between the second thigh and the metatarsus; the dog's true heel.

Hocking out Spread hocks.

Hocks well let down Hock joints close to the ground.

Hucklebones Top of the hipbones.

Humerus The bone of the arm (i.e., the upper arm).

Identification On-dog system whereby a dog may be identified to a record (i.e., microchip, tattoo or DNA).

Imported semen Frozen semen that is imported from another country.

In whelp Pregnant.

Inbreeding The mating of two closely related dogs of the same breed.

Incisors The six upper and six lower front teeth between the canines. The point of contact forms the bite.

Iris The colored membrane surrounding the pupil of the eye.

Jowls Flesh of the lips and jaws.

Junior Showmanship AKC-sponsored class that evaluates the abilities of the young handler, not the quality of the dog.

Keel The rounded outline of the lower chest.

Kennel Building or enclosure where dogs are kept.

Kennel name Registered or protected name used in a dog's registered name.

Kink tail A deformity of the caudal vertebrae producing a bent tail.

Knee See stifle.

Knee joint See stifle.

Kneecap The stifle, with the bone known as the patella.

Knuckling over Faulty structure of wrist joint allowing it to flex forward under the weight of the standing dog.

Lame Irregularity or impairment of locomotion.

Lateral Pertaining to the side.

Layback The angle of the shoulder blade as compared with the vertical plane viewed from the side.

Layon The angle of the shoulder blade as compared with the vertical plane viewed from the front.

Leather The flap of the ear; the outer ear supported by cartilage and surrounding tissue.

Level bite When the front teeth (incisors) of the upper and lower jaws meet exactly edge to edge. Also called pincer bite, equal bite, or even bite.

Level gait Dog moves without rise or fall of withers.

Limited registration Restricted registration that prohibits both AKC registration of any puppies produced by this dog and participation in conformation events. Limited registration is assigned to a dog by its breeder on its Dog Registration Application. It can be removed only by the breeder.

Line breeding The practice of mating a dog to a member of an earlier generation of the dog's bloodline.

Lippy Pendulous lips or lips that do not fit tightly.

Litter The puppy or puppies of one whelping.

Litter application Form used to register a litter.

Liver Deep, reddish brown color includes various shades of chocolate brown, from light to very dark.

Loaded shoulders Excessive development of the muscles associated with the shoulder blades.

Loin The region of the body associated with the lumbar portions of the vertebrae column (i.e., behind the ribs and in front of the pelvic girdle).

Loose slung Construction in which the attachment of the muscles at the shoulders is looser than desirable.

Lower thigh See second thigh.

Lumbar vertebrae The seven vertebrae of the loin region.

Lumbering An awkward gait.

Luxation Dislocation of an anatomical structure.

Mahogany Brindle Color is a medium-saturated, dull, reddish brown, in a brindled pattern.

Major win A win that consists of 3, 4, or 5 points in conformation events and some performance events.

Mandible The bone of the lower jaw.

Manubrium The first sternabra of the chest.

Markings Contrasting color or pattern in a dog's coat.

Mask Dark shading on the foreface.

Master Agility Excellent (MX) A suffix agility title conferred on dogs that have earned the Agility Excellent title and that have qualified the required number of additional times in the Agility Excellent class at AKC agility trials.

Match show Usually an informal dog show at which no championship points are awarded.

Mate To breed a dog and bitch.

Mating date See date of mating.

Medial Toward the mid line of the dog.

Median line See furrow.

Metatarsus Rear pastern.

Microchip A rice-sized device encoded with a unique and unalterable number. The chip is implanted just under the skin in the scruff of the neck and is read by a scanner.

Milk teeth First teeth. Also called baby teeth.

Molars The posterior teeth of the dental arcade, with two on each side in the upper jaw and three on each side in the lower jaw in an adult with correct dentition.

Molera Incomplete, imperfect, or abnormal ossification of the skull.

Monorchid A dog that has one testicle retained or hidden in its abdominal cavity. See cryptorchid.

Move To gait a dog in a pattern prescribed by the judge.

Moving close When the hocks turn in and pasterns drop straight to the ground and move parallel to one another, the dog is moving close in the rear.

Moving straight Term descriptive of balanced gaiting in which angle of inclination begins at the shoulder, or hip joint, and limbs remain relatively straight from these points to the pads of the feet, even as legs flex or extend in reaching or thrusting.

Muzzle (1) The head in front of the eyes: nasal bone, nostrils, and jaws. Foreface. (2) A strap or wire cage attached to the foreface to prevent the dog from biting or from picking up food.

Muzzle band White marking around the muzzle.

National Specialty An event held by the parent club.

Neck well set-on Good neckline, merging gradually with withers, forming a pleasing transition into topline.

Neuter To castrate or spay.

Nick A breeding that produces desirable puppies.

Non-qualifying A score that is lower than the number designated as a qualifying score.

Nose (1) Organ of olfaction. (2) The ability to detect by means of scent.

Novice Agility (NA) A suffix title conferred on dogs that have qualified the required number of times in the Novice Agility class at AKC agility trials.

Novice class A regular class for dogs six months of age or over that have not, prior to the closing of entries for the show, won three first prizes in the Novice class, a first prize in Bred-by-Exhibitor, American-Bred, or Open classes, nor have one or more points toward their championship.

Obedience trial (licensed) An event held under AKC rules at which a leg toward an obedience degree can be earned.

Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH) A prefix used with the name of a dog that has been recorded an Obedience Trial Champion by the AKC as the result of having won the number of points and First Place wins specified in the current Obedience Regulations.

Oblique shoulders Shoulders well laid back.

Obliquely placed eyes Eyes with outer corners higher than their inner ones.

Occipital protuberance A prominently raised occiput characteristic of some sporting and hound breeds.

Occiput Dorsal, posterior point of the skull.

On-dog identification A system of tagging, tattooing, or microchipping used to uniquely identify a dog.

Open Agility (OA) A suffix title conferred on dogs that have qualified the required number of times in the Open Agility class at AKC agility trials.

Open class A regular class for dogs six months of age or over.

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) The OFA was incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation by the state of Illinois on July 7, 1966. The original purpose of the organization was providing radiographic evaluation, database maintenance, and breeding advice to reduce the incidence of canine hip dysplasia. Over the past 10 to 15 years the OFA has recognized that a variety of heritable diseases impact animal health. As scientific advancements enhanced the ability to diagnose heritable diseases, the OFA has supported development of diagnostic criteria and databases for a number of genetic diseases in addition to hip dysplasia.

The current list of databases maintained by the OFA includes the following:

Hip Dysplasia
Elbow Dysplasia
Patellar Luxation
Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Congenital Heart Disease
Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
Sebaceous Adenitis
Congenital Deafness
Craniomandibular Osteopathy
Von Willebrand's Disease
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Copper Toxicosis
Cystinuria
Phosphofructokinase Deficiency
Congenital Stationary Night Blindness
Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency
Renal Dysplasia
These databases provide information about the genetic characteristics so breeders can make conscientious decisions when selecting mating pairs. With the information provided by the database, breeders can apply greater selective pressure to minimize or eliminate detrimental characteristics that could be carried in their breeding stock. When several generations have been submitted to the database, breeders have the advantage of knowing the characteristics of related animals, thus providing a clearer picture of inheritance in polygenic traits such as hip dysplasia.

In addition to the database services the OFA provides breeders, the OFA databases are available for selected research studies. When a research proposal is accepted by the OFA, data can be provided to researchers in a confidential format the does not divulge the identity of individual dogs or owners.

OFA Pending X-rays have been submitted to OFA for evaluation. Results are pending at this time.

Out at the elbows Elbows turning out from the body as opposed to being held close.

Out at the shoulders With shoulder blades loosely attached to the body, leaving the shoulders jutting out in relief and increasing the breadth of the front.

Outcrossing The mating of unrelated individuals of the same breed.

Oval chest Chest deeper than wide.

Overhang A heavy or pronounced brow.

Overreaching Fault in the trot caused by more angulation and drive from behind than in front so that the rear feet are forced to step to one side of the forefeet to avoid interfering or clipping.

Overshot The incisors of the upper jaw projecting beyond the incisors of the lower jaw, thus resulting in a space between the respective inner and outer surfaces.

Pace A lateral gait that tends to promote a rolling motion of the body. The left foreleg and left hind leg advance in unison, then the right foreleg and right hind leg.

Padding A compensating action to offset constant concussion when a straight front is subjected to overdrive from the rear; the front feet flip upward in a split-second delaying action to coordinate the stride of the forelegs with the longer stride from behind.

Paddling A gaiting fault, so named for its similarity to the swing and dip of a canoeists paddle. Pinching in at the elbows and shoulder joints causes the front legs to swing forward on a stiff outward arc. Also called tied at the elbows.

Pads Tough, shock-absorbing projections on the underside of the feet. Soles.

Paper foot A flat foot devoid of arch to the toes.

Pedigree The written record of a dog's genealogy of three generations or more.

Pelvis Hip bones, each consisting of three fused bones: an anterior ilium, a ventral pubis, and a posterior ischium; combined with the sacrum forming the pelvic girdle.

PennHIP A method, established in 1993, of evaluating hip dysplasia in dogs by calculating hip laxity; within-breed ratings are provided, permitting breeders to select dogs with the best (smallest laxity) hips for breeding future generations.

Pied Patches of white and another color. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Pig eyes Eyes set too close.

Pig jaw See overshot.

Pigeon-breast A narrow chest with a protruding breastbone.

Pigeon-toed Toes pointing in toward the mid line.

Planes See head planes.

Poke To carry the neck stretched forward in an abnormally low, ungainly position, usually when moving.

Posterior The portion of the dog carried toward the rear during normal locomotion.

Pounding Gaiting fault resultant of a dog's stride being shorter in the front than in the rear; forefeet strike the ground hard before the rear stride is expended.

Professional handler A person who conditions, trains and exhibits dogs for a fee.

'PR' Purple Ribbon, Purple Ribbon ('PR') Pedigree. In the early part of the 1930s, U.K.C. registered and trademarked with the United States Department of Commerce the Purple Ribbon Pedigree. This pedigree is only offered by the United Kennel Club, Inc., and is the mark of the United Kennel Club purebred dog. The Purple Ribbon designation is awarded to eligible dogs at birth by the United Kennel Club and is signified in all U.K.C. records by the letters 'PR' appearing before the dog's name. Purple Ribbon-bred dogs have six generations of known ancestors and all 14 ancestors within the last three generations must be registered with U.K.C. (indicated by all 14 ancestors having registration numbers). The absence of a U.K.C. registration number shows that there are some single-registered dogs in the pedigree and no 'PR' pedigree will be issued. Breeders who wish to produce Purple Ribbon-bred puppies must either: breed Purple Ribbon-registered males to Purple Ribbon-registered females, thereby assuring that the offspring will carry this prestigious designation; or carefully research the pedigrees of potential sires and dams that are not Purple Ribbon bred. If an unregistered ancestor is in the third generation of a sire or dam's pedigree, it is possible for that sire or dam to produce a first generation Purple Ribbon-bred litter. If one or more single-registered dogs appear in the first or second generation of the sire or dam's pedigree, the offspring will not be Purple Ribbon bred. The registration certificates and pedigrees of Purple Ribbon-bred dogs bear the official 'PR'. The ancestors of Purple Ribbon-bred dogs can be traced for six generations and possibly more-perhaps to the foundation stock of the breed.

Puppy class A regular class for dogs that are 6 months of age or over, but under 12 months, that are not champions. Puppy classes may be divided into the 6-9 Month and 9-12 Month classes.

Purebred A dog whose sire and dam belong to the same breed and who are themselves of unmixed descent since recognition of the breed.

Qualifying score Obedience: A qualifying score is comprised of scores of more than 50% of the available points in each exercise and a final score of 170 or more points, earned in a single regular class at an AKC-licensed or -member obedience trial or sanctioned match. Performance: A generic term meaning that a dog has met, at least, the minimum standard necessary for qualifying in a class or test level at lure coursing, herding, earthdog, or hunting tests.

Quality Refinement, fineness, a degree of excellence.

Racy Tall, of comparatively slight build.

Radius One of the two bones of the forearm.

Ragged Muscles appear ragged rather than smooth.

Rangy Tall, long in body, high on leg, light-framed; gangly.

Reach of front Length of forward stride taken by forelegs.

Rear pastern The metatarsus; the region of the hindquarters between the hock and the foot.

Regular class See Primary class.

Reserve Winners The award given to the second place dog or bitch in the Winners class.

Rib cage The collection of paired ribs, cartilage, sternum, and associated tissue that define the thoracic region.

Ribbed up Long ribs that angle back from the spinal column. A reference to a long rib cage.

Ring tail Carried up and around almost in a circle.

Roach back A convex curvature of the back involving thoracic and lumbar regions.

Rocking horse Both front and rear legs extended out from the body as on an old-fashioned rocking horse.

Rolling gait Swaying, ambling action of the hindquarters when moving.

Roman nose A nose whose bridge is so comparatively high as to form a slightly convex line from forehead to nose tip. Ram's nose.

Rose ear A small drop ear that folds over and back so as to reveal the burr.

Rounding Cutting or trimming the ends of the ear leather.

Sacrum The region of the vertebral column that consists of three fused vertebrae that articulate the pelvic girdle.

Saddle Markings in the shape of a saddle over the back. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Saddle back Overlong back, with a dip behind the withers.

Scissors bite A bite in which the outer side of the lower incisors touches the inner side of the upper incisors.

SCT Social Compatibility Test

Seal Color in which appears black except that it has a red cast when viewed in the sun or bright light.

Second thigh That part of the hindquarters from the stifle to the hock, corresponding to the human shin and calf. Lower thigh, including the tibia and fibula.

Semi-prick ears Ears carried erect with just the tips leaning forward.

Septum The line extending vertically between the nostrils.

Set up Posed as to make the most of the dog's appearance for the show ring.

Shelly A shallow, narrow body, lacking the correct amount of bone.

Short back See close coupled.

Sickle hocked Inability to straighten the hock joint on the back reach of the hind leg.

Single tracking All footprints falling on a single line of travel. When a dog breaks into a trot, his body is supported by only two legs at a time, which move as alternating diagonal pairs. To achieve balance, his legs angle inward toward a center line beneath his body, and the greater the speed, the closer they come to tracking on a single line.

Single Registration (UKC) The procedure by which a purebred dog, not out of a UKC registered litter, may be registered with United Kennel Club, Inc. The owner of a single-registered dog has the same rights and privileges as the owner of a dog whose litter was UKC registered. Single-registered dogs may participate in any UKC licensed event for which the breed is eligible. A dog with a disqualifying fault as determined by the dog's UKC. breed standard is ineligible for single registration.

Sire The male parent.

Skeleton Descriptively divided into axial (skull, vertebrae column, chest) and appendicular (forequarters, hindquarters) portions or the hard framework of the body; the bones of the body collectively.

Skully Thick and course through the skull.

Slab-sided Flat ribs with too little spring from the spinal column.

Slew feet Feet turned out.

Sloping shoulder The shoulder blade set obliquely or laid back.

Snatching hocks A gait fault indicated by a quick outward snatching of the hock as it passes the supporting leg and twists the rear pastern far in beneath the body. The action causes noticeable rocking in the rear quarters.

Snipy A pointed, weak muzzle, lacking breadth and depth.

Soundness The state of mental and physical health when all organs and faculties are complete and functioning normally, each in its rightful relation to the other.

Spay To remove a bitch's ovaries to prevent conception.

Specialty club A club formed to serve and responsibly promote the interests of a single breed.

Specialty show Conformation show in which only dogs of an individual breed or group of breeds are eligible to enter.

Spectacles Shadings or dark markings over or around the eyes or from eyes to ears.

Spike tail Straight, short tail that tapers rapidly along its length.

Splayfoot A flat foot with toes spreading. Open foot, open-toed.

Spread Width between the forelegs when accentuated.

Spread hocks Hocks pointing outward.

Spring of ribs Curvature of ribs for heart and lung capacity.

Square body A dog whose measurements from withers to ground equals that from forechest to rump.

Squirrel tail Carried up and curving more or less forward.

Stack (setup, pose) The posing of a dog in a natural position, often done in the conformation show ring.

Stance Manner of standing.

Standard See breed standard.

Station Comparative height from the ground, as high-stationed, low-stationed.

Steep Used to denote incorrect angles of articulation. For example, a steep front describes a more upright shoulder placement than is preferred.

Sternum A row of eight bones that form the floor of the chest.

Stifle The joint of the hind leg between the thigh and the second thigh. The dog's knee.

Stilted The choppy, up-and-down gait of the straight-hocked dog.

Stop The step up from muzzle to back skull; indentation between the eyes where the nasal bones and cranium meet.

Straight in pastern Little or no bend at the wrist.

Straight shoulders. The shoulder blades rather straight up and down, as opposed to sloping or well laid back.

Straight-hocked Lacking appreciable angulation at the hock joints.

Stud dog A male dog used for breeding purposes.

Stud dog class Class where a stud dog is shown and judged with at least two of his offspring. Judging is based on the quality of the get, not the sire. (Club may permit more offspring to be shown. The upper limit must be stated in the Premium List.)

Stud fee Payment made for the services of a stud dog.

Substance Bone.

Superciliary arches The ridge, projection, or prominence of the frontal bones of the skull over the eyes; the brow; supraorbital ridges.

Swayback Concave curvature of the vertebrae column between the withers and the hipbones.

Sweepstakes A non-regular competition offered in conjunction with regular classes at specialty shows for puppies or veterans. Class divisions, requirements, and conditions are established by the club. No championship points are awarded.

Symmetry Pleasing balance between all parts of the dog.

Tail-set How the base of the tail is set on the rump.

Tattoo A method of on-dog identification.

Terrier group A group of dogs used originally for hunting vermin.

Testicles The male gonads, which produce spermatoza. AKC regulations specify that a male that does not have two normal testicles normally located in the scrotum may not compete at any show and will be disqualified, except that a castrated male may be entered in obedience trials, tracking tests, field trials (except Beagles), as a stud dog in a Stud Dog class, and Veterans class at an independent specialty.

Thigh The hindquarter from hip to stifle.

Thoracic vertebrae The thirteen vertebrae of the chest with which thirteen pairs of ribs articulate.

Tibia One of the two bones of the leg (i.e., the lower thigh, second thigh, or lower leg).

Ticked Small, isolated areas (smaller than spots) of black or colored hairs on a white background. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Tied at the elbows See paddling.

Title (AKC) An award conferred on a dog for completing specific qualifications earned at AKC events or AKC-sponsored activities.

Prefix Titles (come before the registered name):
CH, Ch - Conformation Champion
OTCH - Obedience Trial Champion
CT - Champion Tracker (TD, TDX, VST)

Suffix Titles (come after the registered name):
CD - Companion Dog
CDX - Companion Dog Excellent
UD - Utility Dog
UDX - Utility Dog Excellent
TD - Tracking Dog
TDX - Tracking Dog Excellent
VST - Variable Surface Tracking
UDTD (UDT) - Utility Dog Tracking Dog
UDTDX - Utility Dog Tracking Dog Excellent
UDXTDX - Utility Dog Excellent Tracking Dog Excellent
UDVST - Utility Dog Variable Surface Tracking
UDXVST - Utility Dog Excellent Variable Surface Tracking
NA - Novice Agility
OA - Open Agility
AX - Agility Excellent
MX - Master Agility Excellent

Title (UKC) An award conferred on a dog for completing specific qualifications earned at UKC events.

Prefix Titles (come before the registered name):
CH, Ch - Conformation Champion
GR CH, Gr Ch - Conformation Grand Champion
UOCH - United Obedience Trial Champion
UCD - United Companion Dog
UCDX - United Companion Dog Excellent
UUD - United Utility Dog
UUDX - United Utility Dog Excellent
UAGI - Agility I
UAGII - Agility II
UACH - Agility Champion
UACHX - Agility Champion Excellent
UUDX - United Utility Dog Excellent
UAGI - Agility I
UWP - United Weight Puller
UWPCH - United Weight Pull Champion
UWPCHX - United Weight Pull Champion Excellent
UWPCHV - United Weight Pull Champion
UWPCHO - United Weight Pull Champion Outstanding Versatile
UWPCHS - United Weight Pull Champion Supreme

TDI Therapy Dog Interationl (Therapy Dog International, Inc).

Tongue (1) The fleshy, moveable, muscular organ attached to the floor of the mouth; (2) or the barking or baying of hounds on the trail, as to give tongue, to open or speak.

Topline The dog's outline from just behind the withers to the tail set.

Tracking Dog (TD) A title awarded to a dog that has been recorded a Tracking Dog as a result of having passed an AKC-licensed or -member tracking test. The title may be combined with the UD (Utility Dog) title and shown as UDT.

Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) A title awarded to a dog that has been recorded a Tracking Dog Excellent as a result of having passed an AKC-licensed or -member tracking test. The title may be combined with the UDT title and shown as UDTX.

Triangular eye The eye set in surrounding tissue of triangular shape; three-cornered eye.

Trot A rhythmic two-beat diagonal gait in which the feet at diagonal opposite ends of the body strike the ground together; i.e., right hind with left front and left hind with right front.

Trumpet The slight depression or hollow on either side of the skull just behind the orbit or eye socket; the region comparable with the temple in man.

TT Temperament Tested (American Temperament Test Society, Inc)

Tuck-up Characterized by markedly shallower body depth at the loin. Small-waisted.

Turn-up An up-tilted foreface.

Twelve-to-eighteen month class A regular class for dogs that are 12 months of age and over, but under 18 months, that are not champions.

Twisting hocks A gaiting fault in which the hock joints twist both ways as they flex or bear weight. Also called rubber hocks.

Type Sum of qualities that distinguish dogs of one breed (breed type) or dogs from one kennel (kennel type) from others.

UKC United Kennel Club, Inc

Ulna One of the two bones of the forearm.

Unbenched Show Conformation show where dogs are not required to be on specific benches for viewing.

Underline The combined contours of the brisket and the abdominal floor.

Undershot The front teeth (incisors) of the lower jaw overlapping or projecting beyond the front teeth of the upper jaw when the mouth is closed.

Unilateral cryptorchid See cryptorchid.

Upper arm The humerus or bone of the foreleg, between the shoulder blade and the forearm and associated tissues.

Utility Dog (UD) A title awarded to a dog that has been recorded a Utility Dog by the AKC as a result of having won certain minimum scores in Utility classes at a specified number of AKC licensed or member obedience trials. This title may be combined with the TD or TDX title and shown as UDT or UDTX, respectively.

Utility Dog Excellent (UDX) A title awarded to a dog that has been recorded a Utility Dog Excellent by the AKC as a result of having won certain minimum scores in Utility B and Open B classes at a specified number of AKC-licensed or -member club Obedience Trials. This title may be combined with TD, TDX, or VST titles and shown as UDXTD, UDXTDX, or UDXVST.

Utility Dog Excellent Tracking Dog (UDXTD) A title awarded to a dog that has been recorded a Utility Dog Excellent by the AKC as a result of having won certain minimum scores in Utility B and Open B classes at a specified number of AKC-licensed or -member club obedience trials and has been certified by two judges to have passed a licensed or member club tracking test.

Utility Dog Excellent Tracking Dog Excellent (UDXTDX) A title awarded to a dog that has been recorded a Utility Dog Excellent by the AKC as a result of having won certain minimum scores in Utility B and Open B classes at a specified number of AKC licensed or member club obedience trials and has been certified by two judges to have passed a licensed or member club Tracking Dog Excellent Test.

Utility Dog Excellent Variable Surface Tracking (UDXVST) A title awarded to a dog that has been recorded a Utility Dog Excellent by the AKC as a result of having won certain minimum scores in Utility B and Open B classes at a specified number of licensed or member club obedience trials and has been certified by both judges to have passed a licensed or member club Variable Surface Tracking Test.

Utility Dog Tracking Dog (UDTD) (UDT) A title awarded to a dog that has been recorded a Utility Dog and a Tracking Dog by the AKC as a result of having won certain minimum scores in Utility classes at a specified number of AKC-licensed or -member club obedience trials and has been certified by two judges to have passed a licensed or member club Tracking Test.

Utility Dog Tracking Dog Excellent (UDTDX) A title awarded to a dog that has been recorded a Utility Dog and a Tracking Dog Excellent by the AKC as a result of having won certain minimum scores in Utility classes at a specified number of AKC-licensed or -member club obedience trials and has been certified by two judges to have passed a licensed or member club Tracking Dog Excellent test.

Utility Dog Variable Surface Tracking (UDVST) A title awarded to a dog that has been recorded a Utility Dog by the AKC as a result of having won certain minimum scores in Utility classes at a specified number of licensed or member club obedience trials and has been certified by both judges to have passed a licensed or member club Variable Surface Tracking test.

Varminty A keen, very bright or piercing expression.

Veil The portion of the dog's forelock hanging straight down over the eyes or partially covering them.

Vertebral column The bones of the central axis of the dog posterior to the skull, including cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and caudal vertebrae.

Veterans class Class for dogs older than a minimum age requirement. Each club establishes its own age requirements for this class.

Walk Gaiting pattern in which three legs are in support of the body at all times, each foot lifting from the ground one at a time in regular sequence.

Walleye An eye with a whitish iris; a blue eye, fisheye, pearl eye.

Weedy An insufficient amount of bone; light boned.

Weight-Pull Tests a dog’s strength and stamina based on the dog’s ability to pull a maximum amount of weight on a sled or cart over a prescribed distance within a prescribed amount of time. Scores are based on the amount of weight pulled and the amount of time required to complete the pull. The type of weight vehicle may vary according to the surface of the pull area.

Well let down Having short hocks; refers to short metatarsals.

Wet neck Loose or superfluous skin; with dewlap.

Wheel back A marked arch of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.

Whelp date The date of birth of a litter.

Whelping The act of birthing puppies.

Whip tail Carried out stiffly straight and pointed.

Whiskers Vibrissae or sensory organs (hairs) on the sides of the muzzle.

Wicket Device used to measure the height of a dog at the withers.

Winging A gaiting fault where one or both front feet twist outward as the limbs swing forward.

Winners An award given at dog shows to the best dog (Winners Dog) and best bitch (Winners Bitch) competing in regular classes.

Winners class A regular class divided by sex, with each division open to dogs of the same sex that have won first prizes in either the Puppy, Twelve-to-Eighteen month, Novice, Bred-by-Exhibitor, American-Bred or Open classes.

Withers Highest point of a dog's shoulders.

Wrinkle Loose, folding skin on forehead and foreface.

Wry mouth Asymmetrical alignment of upper and lower jaws; cross bite.

Xiphoid process Cartilage process of the sternum.

Zygomatic arch A bony ridge extending posteriorly (and laterally) from beneath the eye orbit.